The above table serves as a snapshot of the typical factors that impact ridership, and illustrates the differences which exist between the current month and the same month in the previous year. If a change occurred, it is categorized to represent a (typically) positive, negative or neutral impact on ridership. More details on the observed impacts are noted in the description of ridership results below. ​

​Local Network Overview

Local Bus

Monthly Total

There were 5,273K boardings in August 2018 compared to 4,155K in August 2017, an increase of 1,118K boardings (or 27 percent) on local bus service. Hurricane Harvey brought over 20 inches of rain and flooding throughout the METRO service area in August 2017 while there was less than an inch of rain recorded in August 2018. Rains and flooding from Hurricane Harvey resulted in limited service on Friday, August 25, 2017 and Saturday, August 26, 2017, no fixed-route or rail service between Sunday, August 27, 2017 and Wednesday, August 30, 2017, and limited service on Thursday, August 31, 2018. The improved weather in August 2018 is the single most important factor contributing to overall ridership increase in August 2018 compared to August 2017.

Average Daily Ridership: Weekday / Saturday / Sunday

Average daily ridership increased on Weekday, Saturday, and Sunday, in August 2018 compared to August 2017. Average Weekday ridership increased by 7K boardings (or 4 percent), average Saturday ridership increased by 1K boardings (or 1 percent) and average Sunday ridership increased by approximately 4K (or 4 percent), in August 2018 compared to August 2017.

​Light Rail

Monthly Total

There were 1,646K boardings on all three light rail lines in August 2018 compared to 1,276K boardings in August 2017, an increase of 370K boardings (or 29 percent). Red line ridership increased by 26 percent, Green line ridership increased by 46 percent, and Purple line ridership increased by 55 percent in August 2018 compared to August 2017. Rains and flooding from Hurricane Harvey resulted in limited service on Friday, August 25, 2017 and Saturday, August 26, 2017, no fixed-route or rail service between Sunday, August 27, 2017 and Wednesday, August 30, 2017, and limited service on Thursday, August 31, 2018. The improved weather in August 2018 is the single most important factor contributing to overall ridership increase in August 2018 compared to August 2017.

Average Daily Ridership: Weekday / Saturday / Sunday

Average Weekday ridership on the Red, Green, and Purple lines increased by less than 1K boardings (or less than 1 percent), increased by less than 1K boardings (or 12 percent) and increased by slightly more than 1K boardings (or 24 percent) respectively in August 2018 compared to August 2017. Average Saturday ridership on Red line was not calculated in August 2017 because there was no average Saturday due to weather and special events. Saturday ridership on the Green and Purple lines increased by less than 1K boardings (or 6 percent) and increased by less than 1K boardings (or 4 percent) respectively in August 2018 compared to August 2017. Average Sunday ridership on Red line decreased by less than 1K (or 4 percent) while average Sunday ridership on the Green increased by less than 1K boardings (or 2 percent) and decreased by less than 1K boardings (or 4 percent) in August 2018 compared to August 2017 respectively.

Total Local Network

Monthly Total

There were 6,919K boardings in August 2018 compared to 5,431K in August 2017, an increase of 1,488K boardings (or 27 percent)

Average Daily Ridership: Weekday / Saturday / Sunday

Average local network increased on Weekday, Saturday, and Sunday in August 2018 compared to August 2017. Average Weekday ridership increased by 9K boardings (or 4 percent), average Saturday ridership increased by approximately 24K boardings (or 18 percent) and average Sunday ridership increased by approximately 3K boardings (or 2 percent) in August 2018 compared to August 2017.

​Commuter Network Overview

Park & Ride

Monthly Total

There were 715K Park and Ride boardings in August 2018 compared to 574K boardings in August 2017, an increase of 141K boardings (or 25 percent). Rains and flooding from Hurricane Harvey resulted in limited service on Friday, August 25, 2017 and no Park & Ride service between Monday, August 28, 2017 and Thursday, August 31, 2018. The improved weather in August 2018 is the single most important factor contributing to overall ridership increase in August 2018 compared to August 2017 During Hurricane Harvey in 2017 there were four days Metro did not offer Park and Ride service compared to zero days in 2018.

Average Daily Ridership: Weekday

Average weekday ridership remained comparable in August 2018 to August 2017. Average weekday ridership decreased by less than 1K boardings (or less than 1 percent).

Entire Network Summary

Monthly Total

There were 7,634K boardings on the entire fixed-route network in August 2018 compared to 6,005K boardings in August 2017, an increase of 1,629K boardings (or 27 percent). Relevant factors were noted earlier and are included in the table above.

Average Daily Ridership: Weekday / Saturday / Sunday

Average daily ridership for the fixed-route network increased Weekday, Saturday, and Sunday in August 2018 compared to August 2017. Average weekday ridership increased by 9K boardings (or 3 percent), average Saturday ridership increased by approximately 24K boardings (or 18 percent) and average Sunday ridership increased by approximately 3K (or 2 percent) in August 2018 compared to August 2017.